The first legal esports wagers will be offered in Las Vegas this weekend, William Hill Sports Book announced Friday.
In partnership with the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino, William Hill will be permitted by the Nevada Gaming Control Board to take wagers on the upcoming Intel Extreme Masters Oakland League of Legends tournament.
Bettors can wager on which team they think will win Oakland, with odds currently putting Team SoloMid at +110 for the tournament and Longzhu Gaming at +160. Taiwan's Flash Wolves boast 4-1 odds, the Unicorns of Love sit at 10-1, INTZ e-Sports comes in at 60-1, and The Chiefs eSports are the long shot at 100-1.
Wagers can also be places on the two quarterfinal matches: INTZ e-Sports (+180) vs. Unicorns of Love (-220), and The Chiefs eSports (+700) vs. Longzhu Gaming (-1100)
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval said "This announcement is a major step toward ensuring Nevada becomes the esports capital of the world. By embracing this unique opportunity and incorporating innovation and technology into our gaming industry, we're expanding the potential of one of our oldest industries."
This is the first legal Vegas gambling to take place on an esports event, though other esports have had their share of skins gambling and fantasy drafts. IEM Oakland will take place Nov. 19-20 and features Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends, though only the latter will be wagered on in Nevada.
